Family, friends and complete strangers are banding together for the common goal of bringing Marizela Perez, known to her close friends and family as “Em-Em,” back home.

Those who hold Marizela Perez close continue to try all other possible venues to spread awareness about her disappearance.

Unexpected hands came along to lend their support: the Real Life Superheroes posted flyers all over the Ave; strangers on Facebook sent their prayers to the family; anonymous fans of Marizela Perez’s cousin Malkin, a conservative columnist, donated funds toward the search.

“By the time it was Sunday, this whole city knew she was missing,” Olanday said. “It [is a shame] that it has to be something unfortunate to bring people together, but it brought them together.”

With a pen and paper, Olanday copes with Marizela Perez’s disappearance in an introspective way.

“Occasionally, when those nights come up when I just constantly can’t think of anything — it is just rattling in my head — I write letters to her as if she were here or if somehow she could read them,” Olanday said.

For now, her parents can take at least some comfort in knowing that they’re closer to where they think she might be.

All last week, family and private search team members pounded parks and pavement in Seattle again for any clues about Marizela’s disappearance. This week, the ground searches have broadened beyond Seattle — and we continue to ask for your help in spreading the word about Marizela far and wide.